[3] Before retirement Gilbert was head of the Mental Health Research Unit, Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

In 2011 Gilbert was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his continued contribution in mental healthcare.

In early life he considered being a rock guitarist but "unfortunately I was a very average sort of player and I recognized that this wasn't going to take me very far".

He served on the government's National Institute for Health Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines for depression.

[6] In addition Professor Gilbert is currently editor for the "Compassionate Approaches to Life Difficulties" book series.